Fuel oil strainer cleaner



1956 B. E. SLAUGHTER, SR 2,756,455

FUEL on STRAINER CLEANER Filed Feb. 12, 1952 '2 Sheets-Sheet I.

I I2 n I 1 3 i 7 9 4 6 INVENTOR BUELL. E. SLAUGHTER y 1956 B, E.SLAUGHTER, SR 2,756,455

FUEL OIL STRAINER CLEANER Filed Feb. 12, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORBUELL E. SLAUGHTER "BY ti ATTORNEY United States Patent FUELoIL STRAINERCLEANER Buell E. Slaughter, Sr., Forrest City, Ark.; Mattie M.Slaughter, executrix of the estate of said Buell E. Slaughter, Sn,deceased Application February -12,' 1952, Serial No. 271,129

3 Claims. (Cl. -306) This invention relates to the art of cleaning andin particular to apparatus for removing grease and oil sediment fromstrainers and filters through which oil is passed.

The present invention is designed particularly for cleaning fuel oilstrainers.

Industrial fuel oil strainers are used in various sizes and in generalcomprise cylinders of reticulated material open at one end through whichthe oil is fed and closed at the other end so that the oil is dischargedthrough the material of the casing and is cleaned of its sediment andforeign matter in suspension. Heretofore it has been customary practiceto clean these strainers with liquid solvents such as kerosene, dieseloil, and like material. The cleaning process is necessarily timeconsuming and considerable care must be taken to prevent injury topersonnel employed in the cleaning operation. Disposal of the sedimentunder such conditions has always been aproblem and the entire operationis productive of considerable soilage of equipment and adjacent areas.

The present invention is designed'to eliminate the disadvantages ofconventional cleaning practice in this regard, and has for an object theprovision of a novel apparatus for cleaning fuel oil strainers in arapid and economical manner by the use of steam.

Another object is to provide fuel oil strainer cleaners arranged torotate the surface of the cleaner past a fixed jet of steam or otherfluid cleaning medium so that the entire surface of the cleaner is freedof the material collected thereon.

Still another object is to provide an improved cleaner of the characterspecified which is simple and inexpensive, and adaptable to cleaning ofstrainers of different sizes.

Other objects will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is substantially a vertical longitudinal section partly inelevation, ofa preferred form of apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section on the line 44 of Fig.2.

In the structural embodiment of the invention herein shown anddescribed, the apparatus comprises a tubular casing 1 of cylindricalform adapted to be supported at a vertical position for carrying out thecleaning operation. Adjacent its upper end,'the cylinder wall mounts aninwardly directed elbow '23 that is adapted at its outer end forconnection with a steam supply source, shown in dotted lines. The elbowhas a screw threaded detachable connection with a steam header 2 whichextends longitudinally within the casing closely adjacent its wall andwhich extends at its lower end through an aperture in a closure plate 7that isfixed on the lower end of the casing. The closure plate 7 ispermanently at- 2 tached to the casing end by any suitable -means suchas Welding or the like. The header pipe 2 projects through and beyondplate 7 and through a pipe coupling 3 that is butt welded to theexterior face of the closure plate. The coupling 3 has threadedconnection with a removable pipe nipple 4 which in turn has threadedconnection with the removable cap 5 which seals the end of the nipple.This arrangement of coupling, nipple and cap, provides for access to theheader pipe whenever it becomes necessary to remove the header or toreplace it. In this operation it is merely necessary to remove the capand nipple whereupon the projecting end of the header pipe which isclosed at its end by a cap 6, can be easily unscrewed at its connectionwith the elbow 23 and removed longitudinally from the bottom-closureplate 7.

The closure plate 7 is also provided with a combined pressure relief anddrain aperture therethrough in registry with .a pipe nipple 9 that isbutt welded to the exterior face of the closureplate. The nipple 9 isadapted for connection to a discharge line, not shown, or may bepositioned'directly over a sewer or sump so that the sediment collectingat the bottom of the cylinder may be discharged continuously during thecleaning operation.

The bottom closure plate 7 mounts on its inner face a spindle '8 havinga diametrically reduced portion which rotatably supports the hub 12 of asupport spider 10 that is adapted to seat the open end of a cylindricalfuel oil strainer, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, that is to becleaned. The spider is provided with a series of guide pins or studs 11which project upwardly from the top face of the spider for engagement bythe strainer and to center the strainer on the support. The supportspider is freely rotatable on the spindle 8 on the axis of the cylinder.

The opposite end of the cylinder, which is its upper end in service,carries a removable closure plate 22 which has hinged connection 3% withthe exterior of the cylinder so that the closure may be swung to andfrom closed position. The under face of theremovable closure plate 22 isprovided with an annular groove adjacent itsmarginal edge which seats agasket of rubber or other suitable compressible material which bearsupon and seals the cylinder end when the closure is secured in serviceposition. Preferably the plate 22 is closed-by clamping against the endof the cylinder through the agency of dog bolts 15 pivoted by'pintles'14 in ear brackets 13 welded or otherwise suitably rigidly secured tothe casing wall. The dog bolts engage bifurcated lugs 17 carried by theclosure plate 22, and nuts 16 on the ends of the dog bolts provide ameans for dogging down the closure plate into tight sealedengagement'with the end of the casing.

The removable closure plate 22 is axially apertured to receivetherethrough a shaft or stem 19arranged for both rotation and axialmovement in and through the closure plate. The shaft 19 extends throughthe closure plate downwardlywithin the casing 1 and carries at its lowerend a fixed clutch member 24 that is adapted to engage the adjacent endof a strainer, not shown, mounted on the support spider 10. As shownbest in Fig. 3, clutch member 24 comprises a cup shaped element providedwith diametrically opposed lateral ears extending from its mouth andwith diametrically aligned notches ofiset with relation to the ears.This arrangement enables the clutch to engage the strainer end with apositive drive action so that when the shaft 19 is rotated the clutchwill rotate the engaged fuel oil strainer and the support 10correspondingly.

The shaft 19 has a movement of rotation as well as axial movementthrough a stufiing gland 25 on the exterior face of the closure 22. Apacking nut 26 cooperates with the stufling; gland to vprovide anetfectiveseal 'manual manipulation of the hand wheel.

with a hand wheel '18 by which it may be rotated manually during thecleaning operation.

. 3 ,The .removableclosure plate 22 also has mounted thereona pair ofaxially projected posts 2-1, rigidly athxed to the closure plate andreceiving at their outer ends a yoke bar 20 that is clamped to the postends by nuts 29 in the conventional manner of such assemblies. .The yokebar 20 is apertured on the axis of thecasing to receive the 'shaft 19therethrough both for rotation and for axial or is so arranged that thedischarge nipple 9 is connected to a discharge line and the removablecover plate 22 is swung-back to expose the open upper end of thevcasing.A fuel oil strainer to be cleaned is then inserted through the openupper end of the casing in such manner 7 that its open end is disposeddownwardly in the casing so that it sits upon the spider support 10,being centered thereon by the pins 11. At this point it should be notedthat the internal diameter of the cylindrical casing 11 is appreciablygreater than the external diameter of the strainer to be cleaned. Itfollows, therefore, that the header pipe 2 extends longitudinally inthis cylinder over the full length of the strainer and externally withrespect to the wall of the strainer. In fuel oil strainers the body ofthe strainer becomes clogged by grease and sediment which collects onits surface from the interior. In the cleaning action effected by thisapparatus, steam under pressure is directed from a plurality of ports inthe header 2 so that it is discharged radially within the casing againstthe exterior of the strainer to be cleaned and over the full length ofthe strainer. With a strainer inposition on the spider 19, the closureplate 22 is closed and sealed against the upper end of the casing andthe shaft 19 is moved axially inwardly until its-clutch member 24 is inappropriate driving engagement with the adjacent closed end of thestrainer. The thrust bearing 27 is then moved axially along the shaftinto engagement with the under face of the yoke bar 20 and its positionof adjustment is anchored by manipulation of the set screw 28. Thisadjustment maintains the proper'driving engagement the clutch 24 withthe strainer to be cleaned.

When the parts are so positioned steam under pressure for the shaft. Atits outer end the shaft is provided I is supplied through the elbow 23and'nozzlecomprising' the header pipe 2 so that the steam is dischargedradially in a plurality of jets against the exterior surface of thestrainer. During continued discharge of steam from the header 2 thewheel 18 at the outer end of the shaft '19 -is manipulated torotate thestrainer and its support 10 so that the entire peripheral surface of thestrainer is carried past the longitudinal row of inwardly and radiallydirected steam jets at a rate that is regulated by As a consequence ofthis operation the grease and sediment on the strainer is effectivelydislodged radially inwardly 'of the strainer and falls through its openlower end through the open spider 14) to the bottom of the casing on theplate 7 from which it passes continually through the drain apertureleading to the drainage nipple 9. The drain aperture through the plate 7also provides for a continuous relief of the steam pressure so that nopressure is allowed to build up at any time within the apparatus duringits operation.

At the conclusion of the cleaning operation the closure 22 is releasedand swung open whereupon the cleaned strainer is removed through theupper open end of the casing and the apparatus is ready for anotheroperation.

It is to be understood that the present disclosure is illustrative of apreferred embodiment of the invention but is not restrictive.The-invention is susceptible to expression in other forms and it isintended thatany desired changes may be made in the structural detailsand arrangement of parts that fall within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

I claim:

1. A cleaner for an industrial fuel oil strainer that has a foraminousbody and an open end and closedend, comprising a casing having a fixedbottom closure and a removable top closure adapted to receive thestrainer in reverse position through the top thereof, a header pipeextending longitudinally in the casing between its wall and the wall ofthe strainer annd presenting a series of spray openings opposite thelatter wall when the strainer is mounted in said casing, a source ofhighpressure steam connected therewith to deliver jets of high pressuresteam through the body I of said strainer, a freely rotatable spider inthe bottom of said casing adapted to receive and center the open end ofthe strainer, a shaft operative in and through the removable closure forthe casing, means on the inner end of said shaft for clampingly engagingthe adjacent closed end of the strainer and to permit rotation of thestrainer body relative to the header pipe, and a drain through saidbottom closure of the casing of sufficient size to act as a pressurerelief for the high pressure cleansing steam entrapped therein.

2. A cleaner for an industrial fuel oil strainer that has a foraminousbody and an open end and closed end comprising a casing having a fixedbottom closure and a removable top closure adapted to receive thestrainer in reverse position through the top thereof, a header pipeextending longitudinally in the casing between its wall and the wall ofthe strainer and presenting a series of spray openings opposite thelatter wall when the strainer is mounted in said casing, a source ofhigh pressure steam connected therewith to deliver jets of high pres-,sure steam through the body of said strainer, a freely rotatable spiderin the bottom of said casing adapted to receive and .center the open endof the strainer, a shaft passing through the removable closure of theeasing and rotatably and slidably mounted therein, a yoke on the outerface of said closure through which the shaft is slidably and rotatablymounted, strainer end engaging means on the inner end of said shaft,handle means on the outer end of said shaft for sliding said means intoengagement with the strainer-end and rotating the same, means axiallymounted on the shaft and engageable with the yoke to lock the strainerengaging means on the shaft in positive driving engagement with thestrainer, and a drain through the bottom closure of said casing ofsuflicient size to act as a pressure release for the high pressurecleansing steam entrapped therein.

3. A cleaner for an industrial fuel 'oil strainer that has a foraminousbody and an open end and closed end, comprising a casing having a fixedbottom closure and a removable top closure adapted to receive thestrainer in reverse position through the top thereof, a header pipeextending longitudinally in the casing between its wall and the wall ofthe strainer and presenting a series of spray openings opposite thelatter wall when the strainer is mounted in said casing, a source ofhigh pressure steam connected therewith to deliver jets of high pressuresteam through the body of said strainer, a freely rotatable spider inthe bottom of said casing adapted to receive and center the open end ofthe strainer, a shaft operative -in and through the removable closurefor the'casing,

means on the inner end of said shaft for clampingly engaging theadjacent closed end of the strainer and to permit rotation of thestrainer body relative to the header pipe, a drain through said bottomclosure of the casing of sufiicient size to act as a pressure relief forthe high pressure cleansing steam entrapped therein, an elbow connectedwith the source of high pressure steam mounted in and through an upperside wall portion of the casing in supporting connection with the upperend of the header pipe, the lower end of said header 'pipe beingclosedbya detachablecap and extending loosely through and beyond the bottomclosure of the casing, a housing on the bottom closure enclosing thelower header pipe end, and a detachable cap on the housing in axialalignment with the header pipe whereby access is provided to the headerpipe for cleaning purposes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS987,544 Brander M81. 21, 1911 6 Sanborn et a1. Oct. 1 1912 Davis Jan.31, 1922 Wolfer Dec. 8, 1925 Hobi June 13, 1933 Birch May 20, 1941Douglass July 18, 1950

